Sturgeon fishery delayed in Columbia River’s Bonneville and The Dalles pools to support possibility of longer season
Opening the fishery later in winter, when water temperatures are cooler, is expected to support longer retention seasons that stay within harvest limits.
Update (Jan. 8): The John Day Pool closes to sturgeon retention after Jan. 9, 2026. More information is available in the emergency fishing rule.
Anglers are reminded that white sturgeon retention in the Columbia River’s Bonneville and The Dalles pools will not open on Jan. 1, 2026. Oregon and Washington fishery managers took joint state action to delay the traditional New Year’s Day opener in both pools until later this winter.
The delay affects sturgeon fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River, from Bonneville Dam upstream to John Day Dam, and all adjacent tributaries.
In recent years, a combination of high angler effort and increased catch rates, influenced by warmer-than-normal winter water temperatures, has limited sturgeon retention seasons in the Bonneville and The Dalles pools to as few as one or two days. In 2024 and 2025, each pool quickly reached or exceeded its harvest limit, prompting a new approach for the 2026 season.
By delaying sturgeon retention in the Bonneville and The Dalles pools until later this winter, when water temperatures are cooler, fishery managers expect catch rates to decrease, supporting a longer retention season that stays within established harvest limits. Fishery managers will use results from the 2026 season to inform the structure of future sturgeon retention fisheries.
Fishery managers will continue to monitor water conditions and plan to set a joint state hearing as late as mid-February to consider retention fisheries for the Bonneville and The Dalles pools. Sign up for Columbia River Compact fishery updates to be notified of upcoming hearings.
For the 2026 season, the recreational harvest limits are set at 1,250 white sturgeon for the Bonneville Pool, 275 for The Dalles Pool, and 105 for the John Day Pool.
When retention is allowed, anglers can keep one sturgeon per day, with a limit of two sturgeon annually across all retention fisheries in Washington. In the Bonneville Pool, kept sturgeon must have a fork length between 38 and 54 inches. In The Dalles and John Day pools, kept sturgeon must have a fork length between 43 and 54 inches. When retention is not open, catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is allowed in each pool and downstream of Bonneville Dam.
Rules and regulations are subject to change. Anglers should review the emergency fishing rules or Fish Washington® mobile app for the area they plan to fish before heading out. Anglers can be notified of in-season rule changes by signing up for WDFW regulation updates.
More information about the 2026 sturgeon retention season is available in the Nov. 13 joint state fact sheet. Learn more about white sturgeon in the Columbia River, Puget Sound, and coastal areas on WDFW’s website.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish, wildlife, and recreational and commercial opportunities.
